Dec 26, 2016

It's been a while since I've put out one of these wardrobe basics posts, but this year flew by so quickly that I didn't even realize it. I recently snatched up these boots after they were marked down 60%, and I've been living in them since. They are at that sweet spot of a heel that's chunky and low enough to walk in all day. I also love the slight pointed toe, "almond" if you will. I also recently cycled out my Acne Loma boots because they were too aggressively pointy for my tastes and started to feel a void in my closet as they were my main black walking boot.
Here are some other great options at all price points:
-Ok, this is me just trolling, because these boots are the price of a used car. Terrifying. But if you have the budget and want real alligator and not just "alligator or croc-effect", I suppose that's the price to pay.
-This pair is a great dupe for the Altuzarra ones I picked up, and they're also on sale! They have a square toe, which I've also really been into recently.
-Well, these are SICK (and also on sale). I love how they look like traditional wingtip brogues from above but totally aren't from the side.
-Your best bet under $250. I'm all about that extra chunky heel.
-If you want an even lower heel, but not a completely flat boot, I like the simplicity of this pair from my favorite sneaker brand.

Dec 18, 2016

This post comes over six months late, but it felt fitting as we've had the dreariest dark days in NY recently. And when the sun already sets so early now, the grayness is just extra depressing. I came across a folder of these images from my trip Northern California on my desktop and wanted to share because the colors and light made me happy. I hope they'll also transport you to a place of warmth and sunshine.

Dec 5, 2016

Last month, I hopped a plane to Madrid for a scant 48 hours to immerse myself in Jonathan Anderson's Loewe and get a glimpse of his vision for the brand's future. The shiny new flagship store was just about to open and there was much cause for celebration. Ever since my first Loewe purchase - a bright green elephant coin purse - I've followed the brand with great interest and continue to be awed at their brilliant output. Don't even get me started on how Jonathan Anderson is only 32 and doing all that he does (ughh).

I started a crazy day with a quick tour of the Loewe factory in Getafe, a city in the south of the Madrid metropolitan area. As an avid consumer of luxury goods (guilty), I always find it gratifying to see a bit of the process and craftsmanship that go into these goods and really realize why they cost what they do. At the factory, we chatted about how no matter what kind of color changes and processes are done to the leather, the heritage is always there. The materials are true to themselves. Under Anderson's direction and mixing new ideas with classic heritage, the results are elegant but edgy, and this manifests in a clear way in his designs. Here's a peek at the making of the popular puzzle bag.

That afternoon, I poked my head around the not-yet-opened flagship store. It's situated in the Salamanca district in a landmarked 19th-century building, spread over three floors, and roughly 1000 sqm in size. Sounds like a recipe for a masterpiece. Besides the colorful eye-candy accessory merchandising and beautiful afternoon light, there are also a number of art pieces that are housed in the space. From the agate ceiling to the Spanish limestone details to some original British antiques, the store is more of a discovery cultural experience than just a shopping destination.

I was trigger-happy all over the store - every angle was photogenic. Then I got distracted and ended up picking up a hammock bag in cobalt blue. I had seen it on a few of the other journalists on the trip and thought it was incredibly versatile and beautiful. I'm an easy sell apparently. I absolutely love it though.

Later that night, after returning to the store for more celebrations, we made our way to the Real Jardin Botanico, where we toasted to the opening of the 'Loewe: Past, Present, Future' exhibition. I could not get over the room filled with Steven Meisel's photos of flowers. The arrangements were stunning, and the photos and framing sure did them justice. The other part of the exhibition consisted of collaged walls and floors as well as a selection of objects and accessories from Loewe's archives and current designs.

I am excited to see where Anderson takes the brand and have no doubt he has some innovative and fun surprises planned for the future.

Nov 28, 2016

I’ve been wanting to shoot at the Four Freedoms Park on Roosevelt Island for ages, and I recently had a great excuse to make the trek there (though, when not crowded, the Roosevelt Island tram gives you a beautiful vantage point of the city). After all, the park would be a perfect backdrop to shoot the sleek Movado Esperanza watch with its iconic Museum dial.

Walking through Louis Kahn’s Four Freedoms Park feels like walking through a poem. With its clean lines, shapes and sharp shadows, the park was a dream to shoot in.

The watch, of course, is timeless but still feels fresh and modern. I feel instantly more polished and elegant with it on.

Nov 23, 2016

Chances are, you've seen a USM piece or two in your life but may not have paid too much attention to them. That's not because they're unremarkable, but instead because their design is so classic and discreet. It's only when you get closer to one and really look at the details that you realize what a versatile and highly functional piece it is. I've personally admired the pieces from afar but only recently received my first – a storage unit in the beautiful 'anthracite gray.' Ever since I moved into this apartment, I bemoaned my lack of hidden storage. I have plenty of great open shelving, but what about all the junk I don't want to put on display? And it turns out these drop down doors are completely removable and I can keep adding and building more layers if I wanted to in the future.

For a truly custom piece, there is a configurator that allows you to build the piece of your dreams basically. The colors and possibilities feel endless.

Beautiful and functional – music to my ears. This is surely a piece to last the ages.

Nov 20, 2016

Earlier this year, I had the incredible opportunity to not just spend a few days in Abu Dhabi, but to fly there in the Etihad First Class apartment on the Airbus A380 from JFK. I had seen the initial promo videos about the Apartment and Residence, but never imagined I’d experience it myself. I’ve logged quite a few miles in the past 3 years (somewhere over 300k if we’re counting), and I’ve always peeked into the first class area when exiting planes, but no one redefines the first class experience like Etihad does. They are truly an innovator in this space. I felt a sense of discovery like no other from the moment I checked in to the moment I stepped off the plane – and I felt like a giddy schoolgirl the entire time.

First, the Etihad lounge in JFK is just lovely. It’s bright and airy with plenty of seating and no shortage of delicious food. There’s a buffet service (with killer chicken tikka masala), as well as a menu with even more options. I was almost reluctant to leave the lounge when it was time to head to the plane. I was able to get on the plane before boarding began in order to take some photos, so I got to scope out the infamous Residence with its adjoining bedroom and private shower. Unreal!

I’m not going to do a comprehensive review, as many others have covered this flight experience in precise detail. I’ll let the photos do the talking, as I usually do. There were so many highlights that I can still recount them clearly, even months after taking the flight. One standout was the level of service I received. I felt like I could have asked for a Shake Shack burger, and somehow they would have made one appear – on a silver platter if I wanted. The food was so excellent that it was hard to believe that it came from an airplane kitchen. The wines were so great that I didn’t even sleep very much because I wanted to try so many of them! (True story.)

Another highlight was the design of the cabin itself and the privacy I had when I shut the doors. After the flight, I joked to friends that I could “walk around in my hallway and change into pajamas right there in my room!” That’s not an exaggeration – that’s exactly what I did. I also took advantage of the shower, because why the hell not? I was just as giddy and excited to tell my friends about the turndown service. I repeat, turndown service. Etihad really spared no details here. They even left a little bookmark by the pillow with a quote by Rumi.

I decided to have a snack in the bar/lounge that connects the first class cabin to the business class cabin. If you're traveling with friends, this would be a fun hangout spot for sure. Endless food and drink, and a big screen TV - you can't really ask for more than that.
When we started our descent, I was nowhere near ready to leave the plane. "This flight is too short!", I thought. "It's going to ruin all of my future flight experiences!", I thought. (It's actually about 13 hours, which normally would be a dreadful ordeal, but I was so excited the whole time that it went by in a blur.) Etihad really transformed the flying experience for me, and although it may be a long long time before I get to experience something like it again, the impression it made on me will last longer than that. And maybe someday flying can be more like this for everybody... one can dream.

Touchdown. I was eager to explore Abu Dhabi and its surrounding areas as its skyline and landscape were completely new to me. Below are some of the sights I saw. Some of it felt like I was dreaming, as they were truly spectacular.

Nov 14, 2016

I recently had the chance to shoot the new Waverley bag from Lo & Sons in Antwerp (if you recall, I got to take their Pearl Crossbody to Paris over the summer). It was my first time to Antwerp and despite the cold grey days, I loved exploring this small city, its coffee shops, its surprising good Asian food scene, and its awesomely well-curated home goods stores (looking at you St. Vincents and Magazyn). October was so nuts for me I didn't have much time to plan interesting outfits, so I really went with safe neutrals here. Below are six outfits I relied on during this trip and my quick jaunt to Paris afterwards.

Nov 7, 2016

Hello, new fall favorites. I can't resist a good chunky sweater, and when it's cropped, all the better for petite girls like myself. An instant 'add-to-cart' for me. The sweet Queenie Fan of Cafuné sent me this awesome mini bucket bag from the current collection and I am pretty smitten with it. I've also been living in these cropped flare jeans. I love that they're high-rise but still stretchy so I don't have to do the sly unbutton at the dinner table. There aren't many sizes left in the black but tons more on the Mother website in other washes. I hacked off the hems myself (if you couldn't tell already). And finally, these olive suede boots garnered a handful of compliments on day one of wearing, so that's always a nice sign of a good buy! I love the zipper detail in the back and the shape of the toe.

Nov 4, 2016

I recently stayed at the new(ish) Hotel Saint-Marc in Paris after a recommendation by my trusty friend Eric. It's a beautifully designed hotel with a contemporary art deco vibe, and it feels like a classic already. The combination of pinks, mustards, deep purple, and greens had my heart singing.

Oct 17, 2016

While at the Villa at Saugerties, I made a trip up to the Clark Art Institute, a place I've wanted to visit for a long time now. Like Dia:Beacon, it's a beautiful getaway from the hustle of the city. Though I much prefer the actual art at Dia:Beacon, I could have spent hours just on the grounds at the Clark Art.

About

The title, "Lingered Upon," is taken from one of my favorite T.S. Eliot poems, "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock." Here, it could mean that I lingered upon some moment and made a photo of it. On this blog, you'll find both personal work and "work" work, with plenty of travel and style mixed in.